Press

Atlanta, GA – Jim Stacy, television host and owner of Pallookaville Fine Foods, will serve as the Master of Ceremonies at the 8th Annual Georgia Restaurant Association Crystal of Excellence (GRACE) Awards to be held on Sunday, November 2nd at the Foundry at Puritan Mill in Atlanta, Ga. The GRACE Awards recognize and pay tribute to the leaders who have made outstanding contributions to Georgia's restaurant industry and all finalists are peer nominated, which ensures that we honor the most deserving of our industry.

Stacy is the host of the award-winning cable show “Get Delicious!,” which airs on Atlanta’s Public Broadcasting television station PBA 30, and also serves as co-host of “Deep Fried Masters” on Discovery Channel’s Destination America. Stacy has appeared on “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno” and is the owner of Palookaville Fine Foods in Avondale Estates, Ga. Stacy has five Emmys, three Telly Awards and a GABBY Award and is world famous for his corndogs.

Previously, Stacy opened a restaurant in Athens, Ga. called The Downstairs, bartended at the internationally renowned Manhattan Café and bought the Star Community Bar in Little Five Points, which he sold to run the Starlight Drive-In Theatre (an Atlanta institution since 1949). He is currently Zagat rated and included in multiple “Best of” and “Top 10” lists.

About the Georgia Restaurant AssociationThe GRA’s mission is to serve as the voice for Georgia’s restaurants in Advocacy, Education and Awareness. The GRA is sanctioned by the National Restaurant Association (NRA) to operate Georgia’s only not-for-profit representing the state’s foodservice industry. The GRA serves as the unified voice for over 16,000 foodservice and drinking places in the state of Georgia with total sales in excess of $16.5 billion which provides more than 405,800 jobs. From large chains to start-ups, the GRA helps make Georgia a better place for restaurants to do business and helps make restaurants better for Georgia.

About the GRACE AwardsThe GRACE Awards is the Georgia Restaurant Association’s (GRA) annual black-tie gala event honoring Georgia’s Restaurant Industry. The GRACE awards are peer-nominated and honor the top finalists in the following categories: Restaurateur of the Year, Industry Partner of the Year, Distinguished Service Award and the Innovator Award. The winners are announced at the event and are presented with crystal works of art created by renowned local artist Hans-Godo Frabel.A portion of the proceeds from this event will go to benefit the Atlanta Community Food Bank, whose mission is to fight hunger by engaging, educating and empowering the community.